Peanut Snacks for Weight Loss

(BERN Trial)

Overseen By Research Manager

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Must not be taking: Bisphosphonates, Hormone replacement

Disqualifiers: Peanut allergies, Cancer, Diabetes, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 24 weeks

44 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial investigates how eating peanuts might aid weight loss and improve health in older adults. Researchers aim to determine if regular peanut consumption can benefit bone health, metabolism, and even brain and sleep health. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will consume peanut snacks (Peanut Snack Experimental), and the other will consume nut-free snacks for six months. The trial is suitable for men and postmenopausal women who are slightly overweight and willing to commit to regular snack consumption and visits in New Brunswick, NJ. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to explore the potential health benefits of peanuts without the constraints of traditional clinical trial phases.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it excludes those who regularly use medications affecting bone metabolism or the gastrointestinal tract. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial coordinators.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that eating peanuts is generally safe for healthy adults. One study found that participants who added peanuts to their meals experienced no major safety issues. Another study discovered that a peanut-based diet aided weight loss and lowered blood pressure, benefiting heart health. These findings suggest that regularly eating peanuts might be beneficial without causing harm. However, awareness of allergies is crucial. Individuals with peanut allergies should avoid peanuts, as reactions can be serious. Overall, for those without allergies, peanuts appear to be a safe and healthy addition to the diet. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Peanut Snack Experimental treatment for weight loss because it offers a natural and simple approach compared to traditional methods like calorie restriction and pharmaceutical interventions. The key feature of this treatment is its use of peanut products, which are rich in protein and healthy fats, potentially promoting satiety and reducing overall calorie intake. Unlike many weight loss treatments that rely on synthetic ingredients or appetite suppressants, this approach leverages the natural properties of peanuts to aid in weight management. This could offer a more sustainable and accessible option for individuals seeking to lose weight.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for weight loss?

Research has shown that peanuts can be a helpful part of a weight loss diet. Studies have found that eating peanuts regularly can increase feelings of fullness, potentially leading to reduced overall food intake. One study found that people who included peanuts in their diet lost as much weight as those on a traditional low-fat diet over six months. Peanuts are also high in healthy fats, which have been linked to better bone health. Additionally, snacking on peanuts has been shown to help reduce body weight in both adults and children. In this trial, participants will be assigned to either a peanut snack group or a nut-free snack group to evaluate the effects on weight loss. These findings support the idea that peanuts can aid in weight loss and improve overall health. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for overweight and obese older adults interested in weight loss. Participants should be willing to consume peanut products or nut-free snacks as part of the study. The focus is on how these diets affect bone health, metabolism, brain function, sleep quality, and physical ability.

Inclusion Criteria

Body mass index (25-42 kg/m2) or evidence of pre-clinical obesity

Agree to be randomly assigned to consume a daily peanut snack or nut-free snack for 24 weeks

Must attend on-site visits (about 10) in New Brunswick, NJ, USA (transportation/reimbursement for travel not included)

Exclusion Criteria

Peanut allergies or intolerances

Participants with >5% weight loss in the past 6 months or extreme dietary/physical activity habits

Individuals with significant psychiatric or food disorders

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume peanut products or a nut-free snack during a six-month weight loss intervention

24 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Nut-free Snack
• Peanut Snack Experimental

Trial Overview The study tests the effects of a peanut snack versus a nut-free snack on various health aspects during a six-month weight loss program. It aims to see if peanuts improve bone density, metabolic markers like blood sugar and cholesterol levels, brain health, sleep patterns, and physical performance.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Peanut Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Peanut products

Group II: Nut-free snack Active Control 1 Intervention

Grain snack (nut-free)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Lead Sponsor

Trials

471

Recruited

81,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 54 overweight and obese adults, consuming mixed nuts as a snack led to lower levels of appetite hormones like leptin and ghrelin, indicating increased satiety without raising blood glucose or insulin levels.

In contrast, pretzel consumption resulted in higher subjective satiety and lower hunger but also caused significant increases in glucose and insulin, suggesting that mixed nuts may be a healthier snack option for weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mixed Nuts May Promote Satiety While Maintaining Stable Blood Glucose and Insulin in Healthy, Obese, and Overweight Adults in a Two-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial. Godwin, N., Roberts, T., Hooshmand, S., et al.[2019]

Consuming 35 g of peanuts before two main meals as part of a weight loss diet led to weight loss similar to a traditional low-fat diet over 6 months, with no significant difference in body weight between the two groups.

Participants who consumed peanuts experienced a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to the control group, suggesting that peanut intake may help lower cardiovascular disease risk.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of a Peanut-Enriched Weight Loss Diet Compared to a Low-Fat Weight Loss Diet on Body Weight, Blood Pressure, and Glycemic Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Petersen, KS., Murphy, J., Whitbread, J., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9318508/

The Effect of a Peanut-Enriched Weight Loss Diet ... Notably, nuts, including peanuts, have been shown to suppress hunger and the desire to eat and increase fullness ratings following intake.

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/peanut-snacks-for-weight-loss-69d20

Peanut Snacks for Weight Loss (BERN Trial) Consuming 35 g of peanuts before two main meals as part of a weight loss diet led to weight loss similar to a traditional low-fat diet over 6 months, with no ...

3. jn.nutrition.org jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(22)09942-4/fulltext

Impact of Peanuts and Tree Nuts on Body Weight and Healthy ... In 1 early trial (26), peanuts provided 95% of the energy from fat to 10 participants adhering to a vegetarian diet for 6 d. With whole nuts, 17.8% of the lipid ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464623003468

Consumption of peanut products enhances the ... A total of 63 healthy young adults from a randomized controlled trial completed the intervention, consuming 25 g of skin roasted peanuts, 32 g of peanut butter, ...

5. digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/vol6/iss2/15/

"Benefits of peanut snacking intervention in obese children" by ... Results: Children in the high snacking adherence group demonstrated significantly greater decreases in BMI (P= 0.021) and zBMI (P = 0.005) at six months ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956713512006676

Peanut and peanut products: A food safety perspective This review article will provide an overview of major safety concerns in peanut and peanut products production.

7. unisa.edu.au unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2022/peanuts-present-a-nutty-solution-for-weight-loss/

Peanuts present a nutty solution for weight loss The study found that eating 35 grams of lightly salted dry-roasted peanuts before two main meals each day can contribute to weight loss, lower blood pressure ...